Gays Mills Flood Pictures  g  Soldiers Grove Flood Pictures  g   Steuben flood pictures on this link

Click here for NOAA Mississippi River Stage information

Link to LEGALS

CONTACT US for picture reproduction of photos in our paper...reasonable prices!

This DVD is smokin'
Prairie du Chien commercial fisherman Mike Valley has caught the entrepreneurial spirit with the release of his own DVD entitled "The Art of Preparing Smoked Fish." The DVD is a first for Valley and is believed to be the first informational DVD of its kind from a Prairie du Chien business owner. Released about a month ago, and billed as "a sensational look at the tricks and techniques used in preparing smoked fish," Valley's DVD dives right in with detailed presentations about everything anyone might want to know about smoking their own fish. "It's really in-depth and covers every detail from the proper cleaning of the fish to brining, selecting the right type of smoker and secret recipes," said Valley, who has been catching and preparing fish for many years. "People kept asking questions, so I decided to make this DVD," said Valley, who noted that the DVD is a comprehensive step-by-step guide that covers several species, including carp, catfish, sturgeon and salmon. The Valley name has been associated with commercial fishing along the Upper Mississippi River since the 1800s and Mike Valley drew upon generations of knowledge, techniques and secrets in creating his DVD. Valley is taking the DVD to the 20th Annual Oklahoma City Fishing Convention Feb. 17-21 and said that he is working towards distributing it nationally. For now, the DVD is available at Cabela's in Prairie du Chien and will be available at Valley Fish Market when it reopens on March 15. Valley's DVD has garnered favorable early reviews. "Mike is a rare breed," said MSNBC.com. "A local living legend can be seen in Valley's Fish Market," said Madison Magazine. More information and product updates about this smokin' DVD can be found at www.valleyfishmarket.com. Interested persons can also call (608) 326-4719.

School board discusses district's financial status
The Prairie du Chien School District's financial status was discussed at length during the regular school board meeting Monday night before the board unanimously voted to accept the district's audit in its final form. Business Manager Mike Coughlin gave a presentation in which he explained that several financial issues will need to be dealt with by the board in the coming months. "We need to see where we are now and where we are going," said Coughlin, who noted that Prairie du Chien, much like many other school districts in the state, continues to encounter a financial crunch due to the state's budget deficit problems. Coughlin noted that the district's unspent balance has shrunk over recent years. Three years ago the unspent balance was at approximately $700,000 and now it stands at $105,000, said Coughlin. This shrinkage has been due in large part to the $500,000 per year of overhead in the running of Bluff View, said Coughlin. The good news is that, this year, the district should be able to build the unspent balance back up a bit, Coughlin told the board. With uncertainty over ongoing teacher contract negotiations and uncertainty over what the state legislature may do, the effect upon the district's budget becomes hard to predict. Coughlin said that based upon a formula in which new money from the state would be $210 per student, the district would be "in the black" by $400,000 in three years if everything else stays the same. But, under the same formula, within five years the district would be $500,000 in the red. These projections were made not taking major capital improvements into account. Capital improvement issues that the board will need to deal with in the next two to five years include the deteriorating condition of the high school parking lot, leaking roof problems at B.A. Kennedy and the boilers at the high school, which are original equipment. In addition to capital improvement projects, Coughlin said that the district is concerned with a possible drop in enrollment in the future, which would have a negative financial impact. Recently, Governor Jim Doyle announced that the Prairie du Chien District will receive $1,061,599. Coughlin said, however, that this increase will be a relief for property taxes but will not increase the district's budget. The district will receive approximately the same amount of funding, but more will come from the state and less from property taxes. Options that the school board may consider in dealing with the district's financial situation may include leaving it where it's at, having a referendum for capital improvement projects or having a referendum for capital improvement projects and to exceed the revenue cap. In other business, the board voted 5-2 in favor of various teacher layoffs. The layoffs include the three least-seniored elementary teachers, the high school Spanish teacher, the high school German teacher and the least-seniored special needs teacher. Superintendent Jim O'Meara said that the layoffs are due to uncertainty over whether the district will have the SAGE grant. O'Meara said that it is "97 percent" certain, however, that the district will receive the SAGE grant. If so, the teachers will return, with the exception of the high school German teacher. The German program was cut two years ago and will be finished at the end of the school year. The board approved of several donations including $10,000 from the Children's Advisory Board towards the School Resource Officer program, $9,934.29 from the Frances Dobbs Estate towards the ECHOES Library and $4,466.50 from the Goal Line Club towards football clothing.

McGregor to host inaugural fund-raising event
McGregor Winter Triathlon to be held on February 19 
On Saturday, Feb. 19, the city of McGregor will host an inaugural fund-raising event, the McGregor Winter Triathlon. The event this year will raise funds for Elton and Shirley Thornton, who lost their home in a December fire. The McGregor Winter Triathlon will feature several activities. Kim Hayes, the owner of The Twisted Chicken, said that it will become an annual winter event to raise charitable funds for future causes. Christmas week started off on a sad note this past year with a tragic fire in McGregor. On the morning of Monday, Dec. 20, citizens could easily see the black smoke billowing from behind Thornburg-Hanson Funeral Home, located on Main Street McGregor. The Thornton residence on 619 C Avenue was burning most of the day Monday. Elton and Shirley Thornton safely fled the fire, but their house of 39 years did not survive. The MarMac Fire Department received the call at 4:45 a.m. that morning and the McGregor Hook and Ladder No. 1 responded to the call, controlling the fire most of the day. The house was a total loss. The Thorntons were not hurt in the fire and evacuated the house before it became completely engulfed. The home is a complete loss, and all day members of the Fire Department could be seen trying to save what few possessions they could. The street was filled with charred and blackened furniture with what few other belongings made it through the fire intact. It is a tragic way to start the holidays, however the couple is lucky to have family members living nearby to help out. On Saturday, Feb. 19, the city of McGregor will host the first-ever McGregor Winter Triathlon for Shirley and Elton Thornton. Numerous venues will be taking place that day, starting with a bed parade down McGregor's Main Street at 9 a.m. The best looking bed will receive $10. At 10 a.m., triathlon games will begin and all of the games will be in front of the McGregor Utilities. There will be five-person teams with a minimum of one person of the opposite sex on each team. There will be a charge of $10 per team to enter, with all proceeds going to Shirley and Elton Thornton. There will also be bed races, frozen turkey bowling, and a clothes relay and obstacle course. At 10 a.m., the bake sale begins at the Alexander Hotel. At noon, a dart tournament will be held at The Silver Dollar Saloon, Josie's River Queen, The Alexander Hotel, and Pocket City Pub. This will have a 50 percent pay out, with 50 percent going to the Thorntons. At 1 p.m.- 4 p.m., there will be a hog roast and raffle at The Riverview Inn. The fee will be $7 for adults and $3.50 for children. All proceeds go to the Thorntons. For loads of good, clean fun, lots of laughs and great food, people are encouraged to come to McGregor for the day. 

Plat approved for River Bluff development
After a preliminary hearing Monday, February 14, the Clayton County Supervisors waived a third reading and approved a preliminary plat for 17.55 acres of land near McGregor, which will be developed for multi-family dwellings by River Bluff Resource LLC. The action was taken on the recommendation of the County Planning and Zoning Board. River Bluffs plans to develop a 375-acre area, which will eventually include a water park, golf course, hotel and residential living. Some area residents have objected to the development, and court cases have been filed to stop the project. Before the plat was approved, objectors to the motion brought up a number of concerns, including the length of the development's cul-de-sac, the Iowa Open Spaces Act, the Federal Farmland Act, Tax Increment Financing and low income housing for the area. It was also noted that the preliminary plat was not at the meeting. The supervisors stated that the plat was not there due to a traffic accident, and a copy was procured for viewing 17 minutes into the public hearing. It was also noted that the objections, except for the length of the cul-de-sac, had nothing to do with the issue at hand. After debate was terminated, the plat was unanimously approved. Another plat for 123.66 acres was approved for the Emerald Valley Estates Subdivision, located four miles south of Elkader off Highway 13.